Device utilizable for camouflage and the like



Aug. 4, 1931- E. w. BRANDT a1,817,871

DEVICE UTILIZABLE FOR CAMOUFLAGE AND THELIKE Aug. 4, 1931. E. w. BRANDT 1,817,871

-DEVICE UTILIZABLE FORl CAMOUFLAGE AND THE LIKE Find sept. 111. 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 thickness the better -theirfapplicati0n,. will Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES EDGAR WILLIAM BRANDT, or minis, riz-ANCE DEvicE UTILIZABLE non CAMOFLAGE AND THE LIKE Application filed September 14, 1929,v

The present invention relates to devices adapted to disguise or camouiiage any object whatever on the ground, especiallymilitary y' objectives, hunters, etc.

i The invention has chiefly for its object to screen according to the invention withV two provide screens which, though completely dis- .guising the objects, the presence ofy which must not be revealed, are themselves imperceptible to the observer even at a short disl im tance or with the help of iield glasses.V

An important feature of lthe invention resides in that said screens consist of an 1nvisible (transparent or tenuous) support, on which are disposed zones of various opacity, F15 preferably edged by broken irregular-lines,

in order'to avoid any distinct or Ygeometrical outlines which would reveal the presence of the screen; in the case that these screens are made of paper, fabrics or the like, great'atten- 2o tion must be paid to their absolute tension to Y avoid any folds or corrugations which would produce straight lines across the screen, thus revealing its presence. r

' yThe screen hasy preferably a very little to ensure its invisibility; finally it is coloured in suitable colours to blendv with the neighbouring objects; the

zones of various colours are themselves edged Y bybroken lines, the latter intermingling or 30 not with the lines delimiting the zones of various opacity.

According'to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the screen is provided with several movable elements, so that an easy change of their respective be obtained.

, The various embodiments of the invention,

her-eafter illustrated and described, satisfy more particularly the required conditions of Y 40 excessive lightness, easy handling and possibility of folding under handy dimensions in order toV facilitate-the transport, whichl conditions are of great importance where military contrivances are concerned.

. Further characteristics ofthe invention, especially relating to methods or devices allowing to change the shade or aspect of the screen, as well as various practical embodiments of the invention, varying according to lbe described in the inclination may A.

vexam le Serial No. 392,710, and in France September 14, 1928.

' following specification with reference to the appended drawings which are given solely by way of example.

In these drawings:

Figs. l and 2 show, by way of example, a

VThe screen shown in Fig. 1 comprises a lsupporting-frame or background `1 consisting of a network or fabric of large meshes thus providing an invisible (transparent or tenuous) support, on which a gauze-work of somewhat closer meshes 2 is applied, forminga more or less opaque zone bordered by a broken line 3, the configuration of which is very contorted; the opaque spots 2 are distributed in such a way that, as a whole, they form pieces, which radiate in a general direction from the centre outwards. A more. opaque layer of tissue, paper etc. 4 is superimposed on the central part of this screen, and similarly bordered with broken lines. Said broken outlines, separating the various zones of different opacity from one another can intermingle von given points with the result that certain parts of the most opaque fabric 4'can spread over the less opaque zone l.

Fig. 2 shows a variation of this device, in which the screen is composed of a net-work 1 and an opaque fabric 5 provided with holes 6, '7 said holes can even pierce thev net 1. Piecesl 11, 12 of tissue 5 or of a more opaque fabric 13, 14 are scattered on rationally chosen points of the screen; some of these pieces may have holes 15, 16, piercing the whole screen, or only certain layers of fabric; these supplementary pieces, as well as the different holes are themselves surrounded by broken lines.

In practice, the screen must be very tightly stretched, so that all folds or corrugations are avoided and, as shown in Fig. 3 by way of it will be supported by a folding .niore, the screen itself may be frame-work (as below described) making it possible to obtain a perfect tension of the superimposed fabrics or like layers.

As a general rule, the succesive layers of net-work, fabric, paper or the like are superimposed in order to increase the opacity from the periphery towards the centre; moreover, in the illustrated example, this progression of the opacity is regularly realized; even outer regions may preferably show local opaque spots without the whole element losing its described general. characteristic, that is to say, the centre will always be more opaque than the outer zones. The term centre must however here be given a very wide meaning; it must not necessarily be confusedwith the geometrical centre of the exposed surface, but is preferably situated in front of the objective or parts of it, the shade (or mobility) of which contrasts most with the neighbouring background; one given screen can therefore have several centres of-opacity if the objective itself is manifold. This is the case illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows diagrammatically'a screen for a battery of two infantry cannon of the Stokes-Brandt type.

The invisibility of the screen itself depends to a great extent on its shade and distribution of the light and dark zones; said distribution may be independent of the distribultion of the lmore or less opaque layers of tissue. According .to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Athe various screen zones of different `colours are horizontally disposed and alternate, in` light and darkdisposition; they are also-preferably bordered by broken lines, as described for the fabric layers; light green or yellow zones ,alternating with dark brown or green zones are preferred; furtherinade of fabrics having these colours. V The screensthus realized are invisibleat short'distances on almost any ground, and eX- periencehas shown that itis almost impos-` sible to distinguish them from lthe neighbouring scenery. Y

The lower border of the screen 3) iningles with the neighbouring ground and is quite imperceptible to the eye; the outer part of the screen, which'is less opaque, allows par- .ftial view of the thatthe whole screen blends with it. A number .of holes ofthe central opaque p art and the background of the field, so

isolated and differently coloured opaque spots Ation,

sometimes appear light, others appear dark, ,thereby increasing the desired effect of in- 'visibility Y' According to aimodiiiedv form of construc- -the screen might likewisebe mounted in such away as to render it possible to modify,

at will, its aspect, while in use, according to xthe face andthe angle under which each element is illuminated or seen'by the observer,

. and thusbee'iactly adapted to the aspect of the'n'eighbouring ground, in spite of the actual variation or aspect of the latter. More particularly certain elements might be placed within the cone of shadow of one or several supplementary elements, which would themselves be illuminated by the sun or artificially at different or variable intensities.

Other screens with manifold elements would obviously be imagined, `pivoting the one upon the others so that their relative positions could easily be modified in any desired direction by sliding, pivoting or any other convenient movement. Y

'In order to enlarge the lvfield of coloration effects ofthe screen, these may likewise be illuminated either from behind or in the front by means of beams of light rays conveniently reflected and, if necessary, diffused any convenient Vdevice and, if necessary adapted to follow the apparent course 0f the sun. Y,

A course of artificial light may likewise be utilized and the trajectory of the light rays interrupted by convenient coloured panels.

In practice, the screens according to the invention are to"be made of any convenient materials, such as fabrics, paper, cellophany or other cellulosic compounds either transparent, translucid or opaque, allowing economically to provide very light elements, which aremost suitable for the various coloration processes. The screens are preferably coloured on both sides. If the material composing the screen is itself Vsufficiently rigid, no support is needed. On the other hand, this material may artificially 'be rendered rigid, for example by means of wire-netting embedded in the material. Y

In generahthe screen itself will be supported by a detachable frame-work preferably formedof pivoted ordismountable eleitself and more especially by the most opaque parts.

Some preferred embodiments of such frames are'hereinafter indicated by way'of example; the screen shown in Fig. .3 has a frame-work vcomprising armsn111, 112,113 pivotedl at point 114; when the screen is 'fully open, the'arms 113 are automatically locked by spring latches.

According to the invention, Athe screens may'likewise be constituted so as tolprovide for a rapid passing from one tonality tothe other. For this purpose, the panels might be formed by a series of elements in ythe form of sections, coloured differently on their two faces and dependent on control devices to show at will one or the other of their faces to the observer. n l

Against the vertical or'oblique observation by aeroplanes, the arrangement shownin Figs. 1 and 2 will successfully be used. The outer part of the net is cut out along a distorted outline; at various points, it is hooked up on steel wires, attached for eX- ample to neighbouring trees or to posts strengthened'by anchoring devices etc.

' The present invention is naturally not limited to the above described and illustrated devices but is susceptible to any modifications necessary according to circumstances and requirements.

Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention and the manner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is y l. A screen adapted for camouflage and like uses, comprising zones of various opacity and so disposed that the opacity is diminishing towards the outline of said screen.

2. A screen for camouflage and like usage comprising zones of various opacity, wherein said zones of various opacity are edged by frequently broken lines and irregularly distributed on said screen, some smaller zones of lesser opacity being situated on larger zones of higher opacity.

3. A screen for camouflage and like usage comprising zones of various opacity, wherein said zones of various opacity are edged by frequently broken lines and irregularly distributed on said screen, some smaller zones of higher opacity being situated on larger zones of lesser opacity.

4. A screen for camouage and like usage comprising zones of various opacity, wherein the size and number of the more opaque parts respectively decrease towards the exterior, whilst the size and number of the less opaque parts decrease towards the centre.

5. In a screen for camouflage and like usage comprising zones of various opacity, the further feature residing in said screen is coloured with horizontally disposed zones, alternatively light and dark.

6. A screen for camouflage and like usage comprising zones of varying opacity, wherein said zones are colored alternately light and dark, and are edged by broken lines.

EDGAR WILLIAM BRANDT. 

